CAIRO: Fifty-six security guards at the American University in Cairo were fired a day after the university administration reached an agreement with students and workers, ending an eight-day strike. “We came in this morning to find the security guards at the gate telling us that there are no jobs for us anymore and that we should come back in 10 days to receive our wages and hand in our uniforms,” said Mahmoud Ragab, one of the security guards who was fired. The security guards are employed without a contract and receive a daily wage totaling LE 850 per month. They claim they worked for up to 16 hours a day and only receive wages for eight without compensation for overtime. They also complained that they didn't have any work benefits such as health insurance or pensions. The security guards were hired in the months following the January 25 uprising when the issue of security was a major concern for students, faculty and staff. Due to the remote location of the campus in New Cairo, each university shuttle had a security guard on board. According to the employment law, workers are to sign contracts after working for six months, however the security guards claim they would be regularly let go then asked to return in order to break the six months. “For three years I have been fired then told to come back so that I wouldn't have to sign a contract,” Ragab told Daily News Egypt. Moreover, on Monday five security guards were wrongfully dismissed and were to be interrogated. While the reason behind their wrongful dismissal is unknown, there is speculation that the decision is due to their participation in the strike, even though AUC administration had explicitly stated that no one will be reprimanded for taking part. Agreement Students, workers and staff at AUC ended their strike against an increase in tuition fees and low salaries after reaching an agreement with the administration Monday. After negotiating with the workers and security guards, represented by an Independent Union, the AUC administration agreed to increase the salaries of level 2 security staff by LE 250 starting Oct. 1, setting a minimum salary of LE 1,500 for all security staff. In addition, all AUC staff and security will be fully compensated for any overtime work immediately. A thorough study of placement and salaries of all security staff was promised by March 1, 2012; its recommendations will be implemented as of Sept. 1, 2012. A committee comprising AUC management and the Independent Union will review the demand for a LE 200 meal allowance and present the results by Oct. 9. Meanwhile, the university promised to address the absence of easily affordable food outlets at the New Cairo campus. The administration also agreed to form a permanent labor rights committee to which aggrieved staff can file their complaints and grievances. Student demands Student Union president Ahmed Alaa, who represented the students during the negotiations, told DNE that 90 percent of their demands were met. “The agreements reached are very good, however we are not 100 percent satisfied,” said Alaa, adding that they will be fully satisfied when all the demands are met. The administration agreed to a full disclosure of the university budget, starting Sept. 20 in the University Forum. The student representation in the Faculty Senate will also be increased and the cost of on-campus services, such as parking fees, will be reduced. An ad hoc committee will also be formed to work with the senate budget committee, and will include two undergraduate students, one graduate student as well as faculty, management, staff, parents and alumni. The committee will issue recommendations on tuition fees increases and outline various models of tuition payment. AUC President Lisa Anderson told DNE on Sunday that not only will student representatives be shown the budget, but “we will walk them through it.” Anderson had told DNE that while the controversial 9 percent increase in tuition fees will remain, the university was prepared to make concessions in other issues. She added that she believes the students are protesting mainly because they feel that the increase in tuition is unjustified based on what they are getting in return. “They do not feel they are getting their money's worth.” Anderson said she is ready to address the general feeling, particularly among faculty and students, of a lack of transparency about how AUC is run. In a statement issued by Anderson late Monday, she said “I am proud of these agreements, knowing that they entailed much work on the part of the administration, the [union], students and faculty and that they represent a collective commitment to the welfare of AUC and to its continuing mission to be of service to Egypt “We know that there are many workers' grievances and student concerns that we have still to address. Equity and fairness is important to me, as I believe it is to everyone at AUC, so those of you who feel you have yet to have your voices heard should know that we are committed to working with everyone in our community to ensure that the students and their families are confident that the University is well-governed, that the employees are fairly treated, and that the alumni are proud to be associated with us,” she explained. “We have much to do, but there are many of us prepared to do it,” Anderson said in her statement. –Additional reporting by Amr Ramadan.
